11/30/2022
"Fantastic Voyage" by the group Lakeside was a very popular R&B song back in the day, and it accurately describes my personal "fantastic voyage" which began at the McCormick Place "Lakeside" Center in Chicago, IL. Thirty years ago on November 28, 1993 was my first experience at the Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting. "Overwhelmed and Wow" are two great words that would have been used to describe what was witnessed. After all these years, these descriptive words are still very appropriate!
Just three weeks earlier, a career change had taken place which brought me to a world that was extremely different from my clothing and sporting goods retail management background. RPS Imaging was a very small Radiology Sales and Service Distribution Company that was trying to survive in an extremely competitive marketplace. Our major film vendors were Kodak, DuPont, and Konica (before Minolta). On the equipment side it was Del Medical and Summit Industries. We still are proud to distribute Konica, Del Medical, and Summit radiology equipment and have added Samsung Radiology Equipment and Ultrasound to the portfolio.
Our industry has changed dramatically over the years. There is one item that remains constant, what we do is noble. We all strive to better patient care and improve workflow for all the tireless and talented healthcare workers. The challenges in recent years have been almost overwhelming, but we are not only surviving but exceling with our efforts.
Over the years the vendors change at the RSNA, but the commitment of those that work in the trade has not. At RPS Imaging we continue to be awestruck by what we see and hear at the RSNA. It is our "Super Bowl", and we are fortunate to have it in our backyard. Our team is very blessed to be a part of an industry that helps to improve and save lives on a daily basis.